Choosing GratitudeParaugs

Day 7: For Those Who Teach

What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches.

— Karl A. Menninger

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.

— Henry Adams

This one is a day to give thanks for those who teach. ALL the Teachers, to be sure. I heart you. And I am unsure how you pull your day off. It's truly way outside of my skill set. I am just gunna side step your cape and let you fly now. Love you!

So, Teachers. But also those who have taught us so much and may not have the title for it. Or they operate under some other code name: Coach, Dad, Mentor, Pastor, Neighbor, Mom, Manager, Sister, Friend, Counselor.....you get it. We are taught by simply being near them. We pick up ways of being that we want to adopt. We see they have creative solutions to handling unruly children, unruly emotions, unruly situations. 

While juggling toast and yogurt and granola yesterday in the breakfast bustle with my five people, I hear: "Here, Olive. I can show you how. You have to make the loop like this. Can I show you?"

The oldest brother plopped down next to the middle sister (who often, I hear, is SO annoying) and offered to help her learn how to tie her shoe. I may have swooned, dropping the yogurt container. It was that unusual and that sweet. She won't let her own mother help her with it, but her big brother? Absolutely. She wants to learn everything from him. I stood thankful and teary.

And aren't we grateful? For those who offer help in our frustration. For those who, just by BEING, are teaching. For those we adore. For the friend who said something that changed your attitude. And the Dad who told you Chin Up when it was rough. For the pastor who told you to take a walk and it was the best advice. For the sister who shows you that humor is a fantastic tool for life. For the husband whose kindness and patience speaks volumes. 

I am willing to bet you are thinking of the people who have taught you beautiful truths. Whether they explained ideas or their explanation was their life, we learned. Let's get grateful, grab a pen, and write down 3 names. And then what they taught you next to their names. Keep it simple. Nothing long or crazy. Let's watch the thankful thermometer rise!

God, thank you for teachers. The high school English teachers and the basketball coaches and the sisters who said more with their lives than their mouths. Who gave us warnings and instructions and levity and hope. Thank you for when we were ready to be taught, and help us to continue to be ready. Help us to be learners, to be open, to be humble. To not be know-it-alls, but to be learn-it-alls. Thank you that you are the greatest Teacher of grace and truth over time.